Arranged Mafia Marriage

Elsa

“No! Absolutely not. You want to meet the man who tried to kill me? Who might very well have shot you, too? And what would have happened if he succeeded, Elsa? What would have happened to our daughter? Have you even thought of that?”

I wince. The blood rushes from my face, and I know I’ve gone pale. Truthfully, I hadn’t thought of that possibility. Not that Fabio didn’t beat me when we were together, but the thought of him killing me… Somehow, it didn’t occur to me. It’s why I’d thrown myself on top of Seb when that drone had started firing, sensing that it wouldn’t hurt me. I could have been wrong, but instinct had told me that he’d spare me. Oh, I don’t doubt he wouldn’t care if he’d shot and wounded me. Sure, I’d known that was a possibility, but would he have tried to kill me?

Well, who knows. Fabio is unpredictable. All he cares about is having control over me. It’s why he came up with this arrangement, where I only get to see Avery on weekends. He’s trying to throw me just enough crumbs to keep me hankering for more, while also being grateful that I actually get to spend some time with her, when really, I’m her mother, and she should be staying with me all the time. She’s a toddler, almost two years old, and she needs me. And I’m going to make sure I no longer have to drop her back with Fabio when the weekend is over. But I’m going to do this my way.

I’m her mother, goddamn it, and I can do what’s needed to take care of my child, can’t I?

And he’s your husband. He wants to help you. But if I involve him, he may get hurt again, and that, I can’t bear. He told me he loved me and I believe him. And I… I love him. It’s why I need to confront Fabio, once and for all. I can’t let him or anyone else be a casualty in this fight between Fabio and me.

“I…” I swallow. “I don’t think Fabio’s going to kill me.”

“You don’t think he’s going to kill you?” He peers into my features. “You think he’s still in love with you, so he won’t hurt you?”

“Oh, he’s hurt me plenty already.” I touch the scar on my wrist, and his gaze intensifies. “Besides, I don’t think he actually knows what love means, anyway. But if he kills me, he’ll lose his hold on me, and that’s not his pattern.”

“He sent you to get information from me, so why would he shoot at me?” He scowls.

“Maybe,” I glance away, “because he found out that you married me?”

“And how would that have happened? The only people at the wedding were my brothers, their wives, and the mayor, who knows better than to talk about it to anyone else.” He rubs his jaw, then adds, “And then, someone shot at us at the restaurant afterward.”

“When that failed, he came after you again.”

“And failed again.” He looks around the room, as if the answer is somehow hidden there. Then he sighs. “It makes no sense. He could have killed me there, and he didn’t.”

“It’s why I threw myself over you. I was banking on Fabio not wanting to kill me. Besides, I think he wanted to send me a warning.” I twist my fingers together. “Already, too many people have been hurt, Seb. Can’t you see? I need to confront him; it’s the only way to stop this.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Absolutely not.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest. “There’s no way I’m letting you go to him.”

“I will not have the blood of more people on my hands,” I argue. “If any of the bodyguards had died, I would have never been able to forgive myself. It’s a miracle they survived. I’m afraid next time we won’t be so lucky.”

“There will not be a next time, because I’m going to make sure that asshole never comes near you or any of our family again.”

“The only way to put an end to this peacefully is if I speak to him,” I insist.

“And what will you say to him? Do you think if you ask him nicely, he’s going to back off and leave you alone?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “I can try. All this time, I’ve been afraid of him, and maybe that’s the mistake I made. I gave him power over me. You know, many times when a bully’s confronted, he backs down. If I stand up to him, it’s possible he’ll leave us alone. ”

“Surely, you know better than that. It’s more likely he’ll respond violently, thinking if he can’t have you, no one can. That’s what abusers do, Elsa.” He drags his fingers through his hair. “Goddamn it, I’m not letting you meet him, and that’s that.”

“But, Seb-”

“No, you will not see him, and my decision is final.”

“But-”

He slashes his palm through the air. “I don’t want to hear another thing about it.”

He pivots and walks toward the staircase.

A few hours later, after I’ve put Avery down for her afternoon nap, I walk into the kitchen and find Cass.

“Hey…” I pause halfway across the floor. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I wanted to come by and make sure you guys don’t starve.” She turns to me.

“We do have a housekeeper to cook for us, you know,” I murmur.

“Oh, pfft.” She waves her hand in the air. “I wanted to see you. Besides, my Pasta alla Norma is just what you need.”

My stomach rumbles as she mentions it, and I walk over to her and hug her. “Thank you,” I whisper, “you shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did.”

She hugs me, then pulls back to look at my face. “Everything okay?”

Tears prick at the backs of my eyes at her concern, and once again, I blink them away. “I’m not sure,” I reply honestly.

“Why don’t I make you a plate, and you can tell me as you eat?”

“What about Seb?”

“I already took a tray up to him.”

“Oh.” I glance away.

“You guys have a fight or something?” she guesses.

“Kind of…” I shuffle my feet. “It was more like, I suggested something, and Seb dismissed my idea and told me he doesn’t want to hear about it again.”

“Do you want to tell me about it?” She retrieves the plate of food from the warmer and sets it down on the breakfast nook counter. I clamber onto a stool, and place the baby monitor next to me on the counter. She slides the cutlery over to me, and I pick up a fork and dig into the pasta dish.

“This is good.” I work my way through half of the contents of my plate before I finally glance up. “Really good.” I lick my lips.

“Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” She pours me a glass of water, then slides onto the stool beside me, props her elbow on the counter, and leans her chin on her hand. “So, tell me everything.”

I proceed to tell her about my earlier conversation with Seb. By the time I wipe my plate clean and sit back, she’s looking at me with concern in her gaze.

“I can understand why he was upset. It seems to me you’d be taking an unnecessary risk by meeting with Fabio.”

“I need to confront him. It’s the only way he’ll stop trying to ruin my life. All of these years, I’ve been afraid of him. It’s why he’s always managed to ride rough-shod over me.”

“So, what changed now? Why do you feel as if you can confront him now?”

“He shot at Seb; he hurt Seb.” I grip the side of the counter. “Fabio hates Seb. He won’t stop until he’s taken Seb out, and I can’t let that happen. I will not see him get hurt again, Cass.” I reach for the glass of water and sip from it.

“Firstly, Seb can take care of himself-”

“Like he did when the drone shot at him?”

Cass purses her lips. “That was an aberration. Likely, he was taken by surprise. Doesn’t mean it will happen again.”

“I can’t take that risk.” I fold my arms about my waist. “You don’t know how scary it was when that bullet hit him and he started bleeding. He passed out, and I was sure I was going to lose him. I can’t let that happen, Cass.” My guts churn, bile rushes up my throat, and I swallow it down. “He’s my chance at happiness. He’s the man who should have been Avery’s father. It’s my fault he got hurt, and I can’t risk that happening again. This is the only way, Cass. It’s time I shook free of Fabio’s hold on my life and Avery’s future, once and for all. ” I shake my head, unable to continue.

I slide off of the stool, take my plate, and head for the sink. I rinse it off and place it in the dishwasher.

“Either way, Seb is right about one thing. I can’t take Avery back to Fabio.”

“That, I understand,” Cass finishes wiping the counter then turns to me. “I don’t agree with your going to confront Fabio but,” she draws in a breath, “but I was a mother once. I know what it feels like to want to protect your child against the world. Whatever you are thinking of doing, I know it’s because you think that’s the best way to protect your daughter.”

I scan her features. “You said you were a mother, once…?” I don’t want to probe, but Cass raised the topic, so I assume it’s okay to ask.

She turns to straighten the cutlery drying on the board near the sink. “I lost him when he was a year old. It took me a long time to get over it.” She glances away, then back at me. “I haven’t told anyone else,” she murmurs.

“And I won’t breathe a word of it, either,” I close the distance between us and take her hands in mine, “I am so sorry for your loss.”

One side of her lips twists. “I hated the universe for taking Ray from me. Then… I realized I should be happy that I had, at least, that much time with him. He was a gorgeous little baby; never cried, never troubled me at night. And when he smiled, it was as if the sun had poured its radiance over me. He was too good for this world, I guess.” A tear runs down her cheek. “The stories we tell ourselves, eh?” She wipes her cheek on her shoulder. “So you see, I understand why what you’re planning to do may seem crazy, but why it also makes sense to me.”

“Thanks, Cass.” I squeeze her hands. “So, you’ll help me?”